He Made Himself Poor

We love a good rags-to-riches story, be it the animated Cinderella, the families in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, or a man like Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was born into poverty in Scotland in 1835 and by the end of the century became the richest man in the world.

2 Corinthians 8:9 speaks to us about poverty and wealth, rags and riches. It speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ as one who was rich, and the extent of his riches in eternity are beyond our ability to comprehend. Surely Christ was the richest being in the universe.

Yet this verse speaks of his grace shown to us in his decision to become poor. Packer describes this verse as the key New Testament text for interpreting the incarnation. He says this because it views the incarnation not just as a "marvel of nature, but rather as a wonder of grace!"

The text speaks of Christ's humiliation as gracious, voluntary, selfless, and purposeful. Gracious in that Christ did not become poor for us because of our goodness or deserving. Voluntary in that the text says it is Christ's grace, a gift of his own giving. Selfless in that it was "for your sake," he did it for us. Purposeful in that he did it "so that;" there was a reason for it, and that reason we are told is so that we might become rich.

When we think of Christ in the manger this Christmas season, let's remember and marvel at his poverty. He was literally wrapped in rags to keep warm in a stable. A humbler, poorer birthplace was hardly possible. Let's remember that through the incarnation, we are rich, for Christ did not fail in his purpose.

I fear that one of my greatest shortcomings as a Christian is going through life as if I am poor. John Paul Getty, one of the first people in the world to accrue a fortune of one billion dollars, was once asked what it was like to be the richest man in the world. His response: "I don't feel very rich". I don't want to be the spiritual equivalent of John Paul Getty. I want to
remember this Christmas season that because Christ became poor, I AM RICH!

These thoughts are wonderfully summed up in the following Christmas hymn:

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
sapphire paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
all for love's sake becamest poor;

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising,
heavenward by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
all for love's sake becamest man;

Thou who art love, beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship thee.

Amen.

Scott Stengele